Mentoring versus coaching
Often when deciding on personal development we come across such terms as mentoring whether coaching. The two forms of assistance are often confused with each other because the difference between them is quite thin. Most commonly used in the business sector. Below is a definition of both terms and the basic differences between them.
Mentoring definition
The word „mentor” is derived from Greek and literally means „thinker”. Before sailing off to the Trojan War, Odysseus entrusted the care of his son Telemachus to his friend Mentor. Mentoring is a partnership relationship between a master and a student, which aims to discover and develop the student's potential. Mentor is an expert in a particular area of life and passes it on to a less experienced person.
Benefits of mentoring
- Flexible and easy to adapt to your needs,
- Closely related to work, but provides a break from the routine,
- Single person oriented,
- Does not exclude other types of training,
- It is cheap.
Mentoring – types
The increase in interest in personal development has meant that currently the most common types of mentoring are:
- Corporate (in business) – found in companies, where a mentor acts as an advisor and guide on different stages of professional career,
- Industry – A mentor is a person who is responsible for guiding students through the training programs that are required to obtain the appropriate qualifications,
- Social – A mentor provides support to individuals who are in a difficult situation and need advice to solve their problems.
Coaching definition
Coaching. mentoring, coaching) is a development process related to psychology, the implementation of the decision-making process to improve performance and achieve the goal. The role of the coach is to skilfully direct the client's train of thought so that they can come up with a solution on their own. The coach asks a lot of questions that make the client start to look at the world from a completely different perspective. A coach is usually not an expert in a given field and his knowledge of human psyche and effective methods of motivating a person is enough.
Characteristics of coaching
- Is voluntary,
- Excludes directive,
- Helps people learn, but does not teach them,
- It consists of questions,
- It makes you think,
- Takes place in an atmosphere of respect,
- Leads to conscious making of changes,
- Focuses on achieving goals.
Coaching – types
There are several types of coaching, depending on what it is geared towards:
- Personal – expanding the inner sphere of a person,
- Life – relationships and personal life,
- Medical – working with patients and medical staff,
- Professional – development and career,
- Executive – Work with corporate executives,
- Investment – investments,
- Business – Business development,
- Group – dealing with similar challenges.
Mentoring vs. coaching
The mentor often shows the student a specific way and is more directive. Coach in turn teaches the client to solve problems on his own. In the table below a brief comparison:
| Coaching | Mentoring | |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Quick results and the essence of the matter | Background, causes, circumstances |
| Philosophy of development | Using the current competences of the person being coached in a new way | Developing these competences |
| Knowledge of the coach/mentor | A coach is rarely an expert in a given field | A mentor usually acts as a champion |
| Planning | The coaching plan is made by the coach | The mentored person is primarily responsible for planning the mentoring |
| Time frame | Short-lived and intense | Usually takes longer, with a slower pace |
Despite apparent differences, both forms of assistance bring considerable benefits to those in need.